AQW 45320/22-27

Mr Nick Mathison
Alliance Party
Strangford

Tabled Date: 01/05/2026
Answered On Date: 17/06/2026
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Education to detail (i) the number of additional nursery and primary one special school placements required to meet demand for September 2026 in the Belfast catchment area; and (ii) the number of places currently available.

Answer:

The Education Authority has advised that as of 27 May 2026 there was a pressure of 66 places for nursery and primary one in special schools and Specialist Provision Special in the Belfast Area. The full position regarding this demand was not known until the conclusion of the general admissions process on 19 May 2026.

Please note that data is under continual review and subject to change as new statutory assessment requests are received, processed and pupil placements secured.